Financial Planning & Analysis Manager - New York, NY

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The Legal Aid Society, the nation's largest and oldest public defense and civil legal services provider is dedicated to a simple yet powerful mission: ensuring that no individual is denied the right to equal justice. For 150 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those who have struggled in silence for far too long - working on the front lines and behind the scenes to offer the people we serve the exceptional legal services they deserve. Through our Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices, we offer an unmatched depth and breadth of legal expertise to vulnerable New Yorkers every year in over 200,000 individual legal matters while also impacting millions with effective advocacy, impact litigation and legislative agenda. We are dedicated to blunting the impact of poverty on individuals, families, and communities.

The Legal Aid Society (LAS) has an annual revenue of more than $400 million in restricted City, State, and unrestricted development revenue to fund its three practice areas, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights and Civil Legal Services.

The Financial Planning & Analysis Manager will manage grant level financial reporting and forecasting as well as the annual grant budget creation and modification process. The position will work collaboratively with other Departments within the LAS including but not limited to the three Practice areas, Payroll, Grants and Contracts, Accounting, Accounts Payable and Development.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in New York City and State government funding streams processes and procedures as well as financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting and reporting. This position requires managerial experience, strong analytical skills, creative thinking, organization, and experience with financial management and enterprise resource management software.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Budget Management

• Lead and manage the annual grant budget development and budget modification process, ensuring compliance with all LAS internal fiscal policies and grant funder requirements
• Collaborate closely with Practice Grants and Contracts colleagues to establish priorities, timelines, and feedback processes to ensure budgets are completed accurately, on time, and in alignment with the goals of the Practice awarded the grant
• Prepare and submit annual grant level budgets, monitor and submit mid-year budget modifications that may be necessary to ensure effective and compliant grant spending
• Conduct monthly reviews of actual spending against approved budgets and using this review to recommend any budget modifications or adjustments as needed

Financial Forecasting and Planning

• Responsible for the creation and submission of accurate, timely, and actionable grant level and summary level financial reports, dashboards, and presentations to the FP&A Director, Chief Financial Officer and other senior management
• Recommend budget or spending adjustments to minimize budget modifications while ensuring full utilization of awarded grant funds
• Act as financial liaison to Practice areas regarding spending at the grant and contract level, forecasting, and planning

Financial Reporting, Analysis and Data Management

• Maintain and update monthly grant level financial forecasts, incorporating the latest actuals and operational insights
• Develop, implement, and refine forecasting methodologies to improve accuracy, while ensuring that forecasting can be completed on a regular recurring basis
• Partner with Human Resources, Finance, and other departments to ensure salary, headcount and other than personal services (OTPS) data is consistent, accurate and aligned across the organization
• Lead regular financial review meetings with Practice partners to review year-to-date spending versus budgets, review forecasts, and recommend any required changes based on the analysis
• Review and validate large, complex datasets from multiple sources using Excel, Microsoft Office Suite tools, and other financial systems
• Prioritize and manage frequent, high-impact ad hoc analyses and special projects in a fast-paced, grant-driven environment

Financial Process Improvement

• Create, modify, and update financial and grant management reports as needed
• Identify and implement process improvements within the financial reporting and planning cycles by leveraging Vena Solutions' and NetSuite workflow automation and reporting capabilities
• Provide strong technical and analytical support to members of the Financial Planning & Analysis team
• Train current and new members in any new process, tools or procedures
• Responsible for documenting all processes and procedures and keeping the documentation up to date

Team Development and Supervision

• Supervise and support direct reports, including scheduling work hours, assigning responsibilities, approving time off and remote work schedule requests, in accordance with LAS policies and procedures
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
• Identify training and development opportunities and ensure completion of required training
• Delegate, document, and standardize roles, responsibilities, and procedures to support departmental goals
• Identify and implement department/unit management and accountability practices to improve performance
• Address employee concerns, conflict, complaints, and union concerns, with guidance from Human Resources
• Lead and support organizational and cultural change for the unit

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree and 5+ years of relevant work experience; candidates with the equivalent of 9+ years of post-secondary education and relevant work experience will also be considered
• 2+ years of working in finance, accounting, or budgeting is required
• Experience working with large data sets and advanced proficiency in Excel

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working in a non-profit and/or working for NYC is strongly preferred
• Managerial experience preferred
• Experience with Vena Solutions and NetSuite/Oracle financial management systems is preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advance skills in Excel and ability to analyze large volumes of data
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• Knowledge of Federal, New York State and City government grants, billing practices, and related regulations is preferred
• Ability to meet deadlines and escalate critical time sensitive issues in a timely manner
• Advanced proficiency in Excel (Financial modeling, pivot tables, financial formulas, etc.) and financial reporting tools
• Ability to communicate complex financial data in a clear and concise manner to non-financial stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while prioritizing the most critical ones
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Sense of professionalism, confidentiality, and a strong work ethic
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively

Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
• Ability to manage the work, including assessment of work processes and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevate issues as needed
• Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks, and hold people accountable
• Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
• Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development, including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
• Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to the Legal Aid Society's mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to the Legal Aid Society's mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video
• Requires occasional or frequent physical movement to perform essential job functions which may include, bending, reaching, pulling, pushing, standing or walking for long periods of time, accessing small spaces
• May or will require travel within NYC, across the five-borough region

* For positions noted as essential, this will require either remote or in-person work during times of closure or otherwise non-typical business hours which may include evenings and weekends and during unforeseen events such as inclement weather or poor air quality conditions.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $130,142 - $137,142

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one's internal deeply-held sense of one's gender which may be the same or different from one's sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one's name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.

Manhattan - Legal Aid Society Headquarters